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2015 NFL Draft: Best Case Scenarios for All 32 Teams & How We Predict First Round Will Play Out

The 2015 NFL Draft will be held in Chicago in two months and all 32 teams are ready to rebuild through Free Agency, the Draft and other means. Let’s take a look at what each team needs and some names they may select April 30-May 2.

In our recently published projected Mock NFL Draft here at Sportsbook Review, we looked at which college football players may be picked at the various 32 spots in the First Round of this year’s coming 2015 NFL Draft, set to be held from April 30 to May 2 at the Chicago’s historic Auditorium Theater after spending 50 straight years of being held at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall and will again be televised on the NFL Network. NFL odds are that either 2013 Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston of Florida State or 2014 recipient Marcus Mariota of Oregon will be picked at #1—we compared Mariota and Winston head-to-head in an earlier analysis here—but the rest of the First Round should be very intriguing with so much raw talent now set to play professional in the world’s biggest (American) football league. Let’s now take a quick thumbnail sketch look at each team’s needs—in Draft order—and some of the players who each team may be looking at and eventually pick two months from now in the Windy City.

NFL Draft Order #1: Tampa Bay BuccaneersNeeds: QB, DL, DB, OLThe Pick: Marcus Mariota, QB, OregonOther Top Prospects: Jameis Winston, QB (FSU), DT Leonard Williams (USC)The Skinny: The Bucs (2-14 SU in 2014) need a QB to build around for The Future. Williams is a stud and Tampa Bay does need help on the DL, but the chance to pick between two former Heisman Trophy winners will be too much to resist for Bucs brass. Taking a QB is definitely the right way to go and could end up being a real blessing for this seemingly perpetually struggling franchise.

NFL Draft Order #2: Tennessee Titans
Needs: QB, DL, DB, WRThe Pick: Leonard Williams, DT, USCOther Top Prospects: QB Jameis Winston QB (FSU), QB Marcus Mariota (Oregon)The Skinny: The Titans NFL pick may depend on whom the Bucs pick at #1, but either way, Tennessee (2-14) will be able to land a guy that could help start to change the culture of this AFC South team. Williams was my guess, but the Titans could just as well take either Winston or Mariota and rebuild the offense and please the fans as Zach Mettenberger doesn’t sound like the type of guy that will lead you to the Promised Land. Maybe Murray’s Used Autos, but probably not the Promised Land. This team’s needs are many.

NFL Draft Order #3: Jacksonville JaguarsNeeds: CB, OL, RB, WRThe Pick: Dante Fowler, Jr., DE, FloridaOther Top Prospects: Even if Winston or Mariota are still available at #3, the Jaguars are now set at QB with Blake Bortles and need to build around the talented South Florida product. Even though Jacksonville (3-13) needs some skill position players on offense, OL help and a CB, this will probably be an example of not being able to pass on the best athlete available and Leonard Williams or Dante Fowler probably goes here.The Skinny: Snagging a skill position stud like WRs Amari Cooper or Kevin White or RBs Todd Gurley or Melvin Gordon will be tempting, but the Jaguars brass may bolster the defense first, then work on drafting some players on offense later on in the Draft.

NFL Draft Order #4: Oakland Raiders
Needs: WR, CB, Pass Rusher, TEThe Pick: Amari Cooper, WR, AlabamaOther Top Prospects: WR Kevin White (WV), DeVante Parker (Louisville), CB Marcus Peters (Washington), Pass Rushers Dante Fowler, Jr. (Florida), Shane Ray (Missouri)The Skinny: The Raiders (3-13) have a new Head Coach (Jack Del Rio), a new Offensive Coordinator (Bill Musgrave) and have said that they plan on running a No-Huddle Offense this coming season behind talented QB David Carr. So, the Silver and Black probably go out and get Carr (and Musgrave) The Best Toy available and The Best Toy available to me at this point, though extremely close, is Alabama’s Cooper who seems to be in the mold of Julio Jones (Alabama, Falcons) or AJ Green (Georgia, Bengals). With WR James Jones and Cooper, Carr would have a dynamic duo for some time.

NFL Draft Order #5: Washington RedskinsNeeds:Pass Rusher, DB, OT, QBThe Pick: Randy Gregory, DE, NebraskaOther Top Prospects: One of Winston or Mariota may still be available here, but the Redskins (4-12) will probably ride Robert Griffin III and/or Kirk Cousins and with some decent Pass Rushers like Williams, Fowler, Ray and Randy Gregory (Nebraska) likely available at the #5 spot, Washington probably takes the best athlete for its DL. And wisely so.The Skinny: You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need.

NFL Draft Order #6: New York JetsNeeds: QB, OL, RB, A Good SmudgingThe Pick: Jameis Winston, QB, FSUOther Top Prospects: This is, of course, assuming that TB picks Mariota #1 and that Winston does drop to #6 here, but in the spirit of a team that traditionally drafts bad, overhyped QBs out of college, we had the 2014 Heisman Winner landing with the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets, baby. OL La’el Collins (LSU) had a wonderful Scouting Combine last month, but to take him here seems a bit of a stretch.
Other Top Prospects: OL La’El Collins (LSU), OL Brandon Scherff, OL, (Iowa).The Skinny: The list of QBs the Jets (4-12) have taken or tried since 1977 is laughable. Guys like Rick Mirer, Browning Nagle, Neil O’Donnell, Tajh Boyd, Matt Robinson, Mark Sanchez, Brad Smith, Kyle Mackey, Jeff Blake and Bill Ransdell, among many others. And how can we forget Tim Tebow or the Jets 1-2 QBs right now, Geno Smith and Michael Vick? So, Jameis Winston slipping and the Jets snagging him and having three projects behind Center only seems logical for the Barnum & Bailey of the AFC.

NFL Draft Order #8: Atlanta FalconsNeeds: OL, Pass Rusher, TE, DBThe Pick: Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, ClemsonOther Top Prospects: DE Shane Ray (Missouri), DT Danny Shelton (Washington)The Skinny: The Falcons (8-10) need much, as do many teams but to take Michigan TE Devin Funchess this early makes no sense, so expect Atlanta to go defensive and maybe take local guy (Clemson) Vic Beasley to try to help the Pass Rush some although there should be a plethora of talented DBs available here at #8 like Marcus Peters (Washington) and Trae Waynes (Michigan State).

NFL Draft Order #9: New York GiantsNeeds: OL, Pass Rusher, LB, QBThe Pick: Brandon Scherff, OL, IowaOther Top Prospects: OL La’El Collins (LSU), DE Shane Ray (Missouri), QB Brett Hundley (UCLA), LB Shaq Thompson (Washington)The Skinny: This was probably a bad pick (by me) as Scherff had a lackluster Scouting Combine last week and his stock seems to be dropping, so the Giants (6-10) may instead take LSU’s Collins or the best available Pass Rusher available. And with QB Eli Manning showing signs of regression, the G-Men could use a decent backup signal caller or guy to build around for The Future but QB Winston and QB Mariota will already (likely) be gone and taking UCLA QB Brett Hundley here at #10 seems like a huge stretch. Much may depend on DL Osi Umenyiora and what he, or the franchise decides to do with him. If he goes, New York NFC may take a DL or Pass Rusher like Shelton, Beasley or Ray here.

NFL Draft Order #10: St. Louis RamsNeeds: WR, OL, QBThe Pick: Kevin White, WR, West VirginiaOther Top Prospects: WR Amari Cooper (Alabama), WR DeVante Parker (Louisville), QB Brett Hundley (UCLA), OL La’El Collins (LSU), OL Brandon Scherff (Iowa)The Skinny: Cooper will probably be gone and White had a great Combine and is as fast as a gazelle (4.30 40-yard Dash). St. Louis (6-10) could really use a QB with Sam Bradford always a big question mark, but Winston and Mariota should be drafted already and, again, #10 seems way too high for the Bruins Hundley to go. In White They Trust.

NFL Draft Order #11: Minnesota VikingsNeeds: OT, RB, WR, CBThe Pick: DeVante Parker, WR, LouisvilleOther Top Prospects: WR Kevin White (WV), DeVante Parker (Louisville), OL La’El Collins (LSU), OL Brandon Scherff (Iowa), CB Marcus Peters (Washington)The Skinny: The Vikings (6-10) simply won’t be able to resist on either WR Parker or WR White and who knows what happens with RB Adrian Peterson, but obviously the Vikings would love him to stay put in Minnesota and keep rolling, rolling, rolling. Bolstering the offense should be the top priority early in the Draft for the Purple People Eaters.

NFL Draft Order #13: New Orleans SaintsNeeds: Pass Rusher CB, QBThe Pick: Shane Ray, DE, MissouriOther Top Prospects: CB Marcus Peters (Washington), CB Trae Waynes (Michigan State)The Skinny: The Saints (7-9) will probably draft defense first and Ray would be a nice fit although New Orleans will have much to choose from.

NFL Draft Order #14: Miami DolphinsNeeds: DB, LB, OL, DLThe Pick: Trae Waynes, CB Michigan StateOther Top Prospects: CB Marcus Peters (Washington), CB Vic Beasley (Clemson), OL La’El Collins (LSU), OL Brandon Scherff (Iowa), DL Arik Armstead (Oregon), DE Shane Ray (Missouri)The Skinny: The Dolphins (8-8) have shown improvement lately but need to keep evolving. Taking the best player available may be the course Miami ends up going as there will be much talent still on the board at #14.

NFL Draft Order #15: San Francisco 49ersNeeds: DL, OL, Backup QB, CK to MatureThe Pick: Jaelen Strong, WR, ASUOther Top Prospects: WR DeVante Parker (Louisville), WR Kevin White (WV), QB Brett Hundley (UCLA), OL La’El Collins (LSU), DL Arik Armstead (Oregon), DE Shane Ray (Missouri)The Skinny: The 49ers (8-8) have a new Head Coach and will look to rebound after a disappointing 2014 season. Like many in this range, SF will probably pick the best guy available for their needs and the Sun Devils’ underrated WR Strong would be a wonderful fit.

NFL Draft Order #24: Carolina PanthersNeeds: OL, Pass Rusher, DBThe Pick: Andrus Peat, OT, StanfordOther Top Prospects: DB Kevin Johnson (Wake Forest), OL TJ Clemmings (Pittsburgh), OL Brandon Scherff (Iowa), OL Cedric Ogbuehi (Texas A&M)The Skinny: Carolina (7-8-1) can go a number of different ways here and should end up with a very good player and possibly a big surprise with this pick. There will be tons of talent still left at #25 and the Panthers should have some good players to choose from.

NFL Draft Order #26: Dallas CowboysNeeds: DL, CB, TE, RBThe Pick: Eddie Goldman, DT, FSUOther Top Prospects: DB Kevin Johnson (Wake Forest), TE Devin Funchess (Michigan), DL Arik Armstead (Oregon), DL Maxx Williams (Minnesota), RB Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin), RB Todd Gurley (Georgia)The Skinny: The Cowboys (12-4) had an impressive 2014 season but The Rubber Is Meeting The Road this offseason as Dallas has decided to slap the Franchise Tag on talented WR Dez Bryant and will now reportedly let RB DeMarco Murray test Free Agency, meaning that the Cowboys may snag Gordon or Gurley and possibly have a Running Back By Committee this season. FSU’s Eddie Goldman would be a good pick, but the news about Murray and the potential availability of Gordon, Gurley or even Nebraska’s Ameer Abdullah may pique Dallas’s interests.

NFL Draft Order #27: Denver BroncosNeeds: WR, DL, LB, TE, QB Peyton Manning to Re-SignThe Pick: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, OklahomaOther Top Prospects: WR Kevin White (WV), WR DeVante Parker (Louisville), WR Jaelen Strong, (ASU), TE Devin Funchess (Michigan), DL Eddie Goldman (FSU)The Skinny: The Broncos will likely get Peyton Manning back for One More Spin and with both Thomases (TE Julius and WR Demaryius) in Option Years, Denver (12-4) will get to pick between the best WRs left at this point or maybe the best DL or LBs left. A good problem and this Dorial Green-Beckham kid from Oklahoma got game.